Ethos Use by Jesse Ventura to Enhance Conspiracy Theory - Thesis Proposal Example

Ethos Use by Jesse Ventura to Enhance Conspiracy Theory Introduction The format of the show features former Navy UDT Minnesota governor, actor, as well as a professional wrestler Jesse Ventura who looks at different conspiracy theories1. These conspiracy theories involve a number of controversial subjects like projects concerned with secret weapons, government surveillance, secret societies, and global warming. From what is presented in season 1, he got with an investigation group that consisting of two reports June Sarpong and skeptic Alex Piper as well as an investigator Michael Braver man. Season 2 has investigator Daniel Kucan replacing Alex Piper in several episodes and in season three Tyrel Ventura who is Jesse Ventura’s son and the of Oliver Stone son as well as the director, Sean Stone, join the investigative team. The show is entertaining and is rated as a blockbuster series for cable. Each premiering episode is watched by close to 1.5 million people with the majority others watching the series in reruns. Thesis: Jesse Ventura utilizes ethos to promote the credibility of conspiracy work focused to enlighten the audience on things that transpire without the knowledge of citizens, and which are only known to few individuals. Public perceptions on conspiracies The conspiracy theories captured in the series elicit a lot of mixed reactions and responses from different parties. It is in closely examining a specific part of one of the episodes that the rhetorical appeal of the series is revealed. Rhetorical appeals are also referred to as modes of persuasion. These devices in rhetoric classify the appeal of the speaker to his or her audience. However according to Aristotle in a clear sense persuasion is somewhat of a demonstration because human beings are persuaded to the greatest degree when a thing is considered as having been demonstrated. However, there are 3 kinds of styles of inducement furnished by the verbal word The first is ethos in which persuasion was achieved through the personal character of the speaker when he or she speaks in a manner to make the audience think him or her credible. On the other hand, persuasion may issue from or through the audience in instances where speech was used to stir their emotions. This is what Aristotle labeled as pathos. Finally, Aristotle describes the kind of persuasion effected through the actual speech when an apparent truth or a truth has been proved using persuasive arguments that are enough to the case in question. This mode of persuasion is known as logos. Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura is one kind of television series that leaves the audience torn between different versions of ‘truth’2. The numerous, unique, as well as individualized conclusions people relation this and organizations draw from his discussions and investigations. An example of a small portion from this blockbuster series would be the conspiracy theory put across in season 2 of the series and episode 15. The episode is titled “Pentagon” that Jesse Ventura investigates the conspiracy theory that a missile instead of a hijacked airliner hit The Pentagon in the wake of the September 11th attacks. This was aired on 17 December 2010. Ventura raises four questions in this episode and tries to provide an investigation into the matters arising3. First, he questions the lack of a surveillance video released by FBI Agents. The other claim is that the damage and debris was inconsistent with a jetliner’s crash. The extreme difficulty connected with crashing a jetliner at such high speed by an amateur pilot into a specified ground target. The last claim as part of this conspiracy theory is the link to a possible cover up of $2.3 trillion (unaccounted for taxpayer money) announced by the Secretary of Defense then Donald Rumsfeld. This was done the day before the attacks. This conspiracy theory has raised many mixed reactions with most quarters raising concerns as to the credibility of the reports and of the reporter. The mode of persuasion used by Jesse Ventura in the case that will be taken a being a representative of the rest of the conspiracy theories this’s ethos. Ethos is the rhetorical appeal that appeals to credibility and is related to ethics or moral principles of the writer. Ethos here is the way an author establishes trust with his or her reader. Additionally, the author has to prove that they have something worth listening to in their development of an argument and presentation of facts. Celebrities influence on public thoughts/opinions Jesse Ventura covers real life topics and some science fiction investigations, but his specialty is matters security, political, and government4. The appeal to credibility or authority of the presenter is what ethos is all about. This tells how well the presenter manages to persuade the readers that they have necessary qualification to speak on or address the particular subject. This can be done by the presenter being a notable figure in the field of investigation and having a stake in the matter or by using of impressive logos or knowledge on the topic. The reputation of the presenter is considered in the ethos mode of persuasion as well. In discussing conspiracy theories, touching on the government Jesse Ventura is the right candidate to provide credible insights because of his portfolio. The investigation launched into the September 11th attacks is done so in good faith of a political leader’s quest to unearth the truth5. Have been a former Navy Seal and governor, however, Ventura’s credentials give him the authority to question and investigate conspiracies within the government of which he was part of at a time. The rabble rousing in the September 11th attacks is uniform for most of his work and the episodes in the series from the first to the third season. Ventura makes his submissions and presentations in exciting tones and to allow his evidence from the Pentagon Papers gained through the standard Freedom of Information Act requests on the Internet. Through the pronunciations made in the conspiracy theory presentation on “The Pentagon,” there is evidence of truth in all the conspiracy theories that Ventura has unearthed6. He has a credible background in the government and military and the only questionable thing about his ethos is the fact that he seems surprised to learn that truly the government lies to its citizens. This is not to say that everything pronounced by the government is a lie from all the conspiracies presented. Conclusion From examination of one episode, “Pentagon” in a series of productions by Jesse Ventura titled Conspiracy Theory, it is possible to determine the rhetorical appeal in the rest of the works by the same presenter. Conspiracies are perennial favorites for television producers because of the readily available as well as receptive audience as evidenced in the number of views for Jesse Ventura’s program. Conspiracies have interesting twists in them and unpredictable story lines, which need a credible presenter to avoid being categorized as fallacies. Proof is a fundamental as an appeal to ethos to paint the right picture regarding in twisting the facts especially by the government in trying to cover up something. The Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura is exceptional in all these senses. It is common for such presentations to escalate wide spread speculation by posing unanswered questions at the end. These rhetorical questions are the key volunteers to curiosity and further debate in trying to reach the truth. Bibliography Jesse, Ventura. 2014. Conspiracy Theory. Trutv.Com. Accessed May 6 2014. http://www.trutv.com/shows/conspiracy-theory/index.html. Read More